Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Southern Exposure: Bittersweet November

Before we end November, I wanted to take a break from travel posts and take you back to my favorite Southern Exposure for a quick look at my favorite place in November. We'll return with posts from England next time, and more on the workshop at the end of this post. But first, let's visit the garden.


And there wasn't much garden left in November. We've had snow and it has been very cold so the only flowers still surviving were those in the bird baths, probably arranged that morning!


The flowering kale still held its color, too.


And the stone cherubs holding court looked more than a little cold on this frosty morning.


But the bittersweet was fantastic. I've never seen so much growing wild. Or maybe not so wild!


We couldn't stop taking photos, it felt like a rare sight to us.


There is a certain beauty in fading blooms, the quiet colors of autumn. I confess I found these faded hydrangea blooms just as pretty in a soft tan hue as beautiful as the more colorful versions in the heat of the summer. These seemed to just form in a heart shape!


Inside the greenhouse, a few lovely vignettes.


Look closely. I loved the heart in shadow on the back wall. Lots of love today!


And this made me smile. I want a greenhouse!


Of course our trio of creatives had to do a selfie in the gazebo. This was our last workshop there together (although at the bottom of this post I'll share another project I did there a week later).


Should you think there is only fall color at Southern Exposure, think again!


Now, that's what I call a holly bush!


It made me think it was time to start decking the halls!


Back in the Milking Parlor, Angie greeted us with a berry cocktail.


Then it was on to lunch -- a fabulous salmon dish this time, with wild rice and the obligatory November pumpkin pie. As always, the table was lovely and our table companions delightful.


Then to the craft tent for the project. We started with a very gnarly wreath and were given live eucalyptus. Micah explained the type we used and since I didn't have a notebook, I can't remember -- I just know it wasn't the "silver dollar" kind. He promised it would dry well for us. I love how they set us up with very sturdy easels and all our supplies!


Here's the end project when we left. I knew I would be tucking a few stray leaves into place and adding some red for this season when I got home.


And here you have it finished. Well, no, because when I got home I added berries and a cardinal for the season! And tamed some of the leaves a little bit!

The next week I went down for an "Alpine Sled" workshop. We decorated a small sled with pine, boxwood, holly, berries, eucalyptus, and dogwood, added a couple of snowflakes (which I'll rearrange before I put it up) and I loved it!


We'll start visiting England in the next post or two but those will be interspersed with lots of holiday merriment, you can be sure! (And maybe a baby grand or two!)

43 comments:

Misadventures of Widowhood said...

The place really has established itself in a niche market that creates a lot of fun and good food for its visitors. I've been there a few times to wander and eat but I've passed on the workshops. As usual, your photos are fantastic.

DUTA said...

There's,indeed, a certain beauty to fading colours.You've captured that well.
I like the 'creative trio' both in the selfie picture and in the project tent picture.

Joyful said...

Beautiful images :-)

William Kendall said...

Terrific shots, particularly the cherub!

The Liberty Belle said...

Holly bushes, berry cocktails, and time spent with kindred spirits... sounds like a wonderful day to me.

My name is Erika. said...

I think the garden still looks wonderful-like it should look in the fall. Not with all the snow we've both had this fall. More today here- ARRRRRGH! This new snow makes these even better to enjoy. Hugs-Erika

Pamela said...

How pretty!

Iris Flavia said...

Oh, my goodness, you have snow already?! Crikey!
Is that beautiful kale edible?
I love the shoe arrangement... and the chandelier, makes you three shine extra bright :-)
Live eucalyptus, ohhh, I love that smell.
Great work on the decorations, sometimes I wish our place was a tad bigger...

Valerie-Jael said...

That's a beautiful place to visit and do a workshop, love the gorgeous photos. And you and your sled look great, too. Glad you gals had such a wonderful time. Hugs, Valerie

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

As always, I love your Southern Exposure posts. I love the projects because I used to create a lot of my own floral arrangements, too. The wreath is lovely, but that sled is divine. I would probably remove the snowflakes, though, since I thought they made the project look artificial. I've had a holly bush for about 10 years and it has NEVER produced berries. Those were fabulous at Southern Exposure and on your sled, too. BTW, that was some incredibly healthy rosemary in that pot in the greenhouse.

Tracy said...

It's still amazing, end of season, what a garden offers... And not exception at SE, where they really know how to garden! Each season offers it's special, unique gifts, if we take the time to look. GORGEOUS images, Jeanie!! LOVE those shoes planted with succulents--very fun. And love seeing the pic of you & your friends. :) I've been wanting a holly bush, or two for years. Just not sure where to put 'em. Ooo... what was in that pretty pinky-peach berry cocktail?! LOVE your sled decoration!! Where will you hang it, I wonder... Thanks for taking us back to SE, Jeanie, it's alway such fun! And can't wait to see England through your eyes coming up next!! :))) ((HUGS))

Deb said...

Such fun, Jeanie. I would join you there if I could and bring home a wonderful wreath too. What a fabulous day. And the food...wow. I love the sled. xo

thepaintedapron.com said...

This is such a great place, any time of year it's beautiful! Love the fun vignettes, and the workshops always sound fun. I LOVE the sled, I've got to get busy!! Don't forget to email me your address so I can send your tote! jfmdesigns@bellsouth.net
Jenna

Preppy Empty Nester said...

You ladies look like you have so much fun together! I love your pretty sled. Enjoy your week, Jeanie.

shoreacres said...

The faded hydrangeas are my favorite photo, followed by that kale. It's just lovely. Do you happen to know if that bittersweet is native, or if it's the imported, invasive variety? I love bittersweet, and have a long branch of it atop my refrigerator, but mine is artificial -- we don't have it down here. Here's a great article about the kinds of bittersweet. It's one of my favorite plants.

La Table De Nana said...

Fun fun fun..I recognize your painting friend..You know how to live my dear:)
I used to want a greenhouse..and then I thought..all thos windows..never clean..always dirty..where I live windows need cleaning tiwce a yr.We skipped one..lol..
I enjoy you NE outings..

Pam said...

Such beautiful shots. Loving the shoes with the the plants in it. Those don’t need lots of roof space so planting in a shoe would work great! Might have to check out some Goodwill shoes to see what I can do. Good one here in Tennessee this morn, 6am it was 20. Yep, too cold for me! Have a great day.

Joanne Huffman said...

You have such a good time there and make such lovely projects.

AnnMarie aka Vintage Junkie aka NaNa said...

Looks like fun! There's nothing like a day out with girlfriends!

Jacqueline~Cabin and Cottage said...

Just lovely! I love hydrangeas when they're done just as much too. And I'd love a holly bush like that just for Christmas. Need to get to the nursery just for the smells!

Jenny Woolf said...

What a beautiful project! And as ever it seems to me as if Southern Exposure is a special place- it is so hard to provide interest and colour in the winter, but berries and that wonderful flowering cabbage have done it.

Diane said...

Wow what gorgeous pictures.

Hugs diane

Polly said...

Your wreath is beautiful Jeanie, I like how you have put it on the board, it sets it off very well. Your lovely photos showcase the gorgeous colours of autumn. I have enjoyed all your French posts, you really had a great time x

krishna said...

Beautiful pictures. Love it.

Please visit: http://from-a-girls-mind.blogspot.com

Judy at GoldCountryCottage said...

Jeanie, the bittersweet is amazing. I have never seen it growing. Love the sled project..Happy Wednesday..Judy

Marilyn Miller said...

Your adventures to this garden always make me smile and I always, always love whatever you make there. Eucalyptus would smell so good in anything. Wishing I could get my hands on some. Then adding red bows or berry is so festive too. Then spending time with friends, playing in the greenhouse, snapping pictures of the bird bath with flowers and bittersweet too. How extra special.

Thelma said...

Beautiful photos. That bittersweet is so pretty. I wonder if it will grow in my region of Eastern Quebec. I have to check up on that. I'm anxious to see your photos of England. My daughter and I visited in Sept.

The French Hutch said...

I always enjoy these posts when you attend Southern Exposure. Wow, so much color this season. From autumn color to Christmas color all in one place. Love the bittersweet and yes, a lot! And, love that holly bush. Love berry cocktail and the table was lovely. Pretty wreath........

Victoria Zigler said...

Sounds like you had another wonderful time there. The craft projects sound like loads of fun too.

I almost went to a wreath-making craft class too. But I found out about it too late to book a place. There was another Christmasy one I found out about too late too.

Little Wandering Wren said...

You ladies always look to have the best fun on your days out - I would adore these workshops for sure. I'm in the Uk at the mo, you left at the right time, it is just as frosty here, with the same masses of berries on everything, we hope that means it won't be too harsh a winter! Love the flowers on the bird bath!
Wren x

Sami said...

Such a fabulous place Jeanie!
Love those shoes with succulents, the holly bush and that flowering kale is beautiful!!
I like the way you finished your wreath with those silver stars.

Carol @Comfort Spring Station said...

Wow that flowering kale is gorgeous! Lovely garden, food, everything looks so wonderful. Happy Holidays!

Sandi Magle said...

What a fun post---I've had so many problems trying to comment. I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving! This post looks like it was a fun day!

Sally Wessely said...

Thanks for sharing your farewell to fall. The late blooming follage was beautiful. Love your attention to detail as evidenced by spotting the heart shaped objects. Yes, the hydrangea are beautiful blooming and when dried. What fun your workshops are. Love, love, love the sled. Nice work.

Lisa from Lisa's Yarns said...

I love how your wreath turned out! I love festive wreaths, almost as much as I love Christmas trees! Southern Exposure is such a beautiful place to visit. I'm glad you got to spot some color - things are looking rather drab and dead here, too, since it's been sooo cold. Well, actually things are looking white because we got a covering of snow last night. I guess winter is here to stay. Womp womp.

Sandra Cox said...

Going to Southern Exposure is like entering a fairyland isn't it?

Red Rose Alley said...

Southern Exposure looks beautiful in November, Jeanie. What a lovely little cherub. The snow looks so pretty covering all the bushes and shrubs. And the red rose with the Fall flowers and berries made me smile. This is a pretty picture of you with the fuchsia scarf. I don't wear scarves, but the girls love them, and they always look wonderful on people. It was a treat to see all your fantastic pictures at Southern Exposure, Jeanie. Lots of interesting things to see there.

~Sheri

Kitty said...

I love Southern Vision as shown through you. I wish I could be there to go with you. I love all your posts. Love toyou, Rick and the grands.

BeachGypsy said...

I just love this place! No matter what season you go or what you make or what you eat....it's all just so pretty and so interesting to see what goes on and what you get to bring home each time! Whoever had the concept and ideas for this place, well they just DID A GREAT JOB! Love the picture of you with your cute little sled!! Love that pink scarf too. HAPPY WEEKEND MY FRIEND!1

Pam Richardson said...

Jeanie, the trips to Southern Exposure are always a favorite of mine. Your photos capture this time of year perfectly. The projects you made are so pretty and the meal and sweet friends made for a beautiful day!

Danielle L Zecher said...

I like your sled, and your wreath, they both look great. That flowering kale is gorgeous. I've toyed with the idea of planting some, and now I think I definitely want to. Next year!

Rita C at Panoply said...

Jeanie, you know how I LOVE Southern Exposure! I've been leaving all my unread posts from this past week until I could come up for air from my decking my halls for Christmas, and I'm so happy to stop here to see all this beauty. I agree with you in seeing the faded & dried blooms of hyacinths as pretty in their own right. I use them all over my home for decor. The heart shapes were lovely little bonuses - glad you captured them. Your projects, the meals - it all looks so very enjoyable. That's my cup of tea right there. Thanks, as always, for sharing.

Lynne said...

Loved this Southern Exposure . . . November . . .
Bitter Sweet . . . Heart . . . More heart images . ..
Bountiful Love . . .
Holly brilliant . . .
Creative . . . just loved it, a favorite post . . . really!
You are delightfully infectious . . .
Thank you for lighting up my December 2 morning . . .

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